Health promotion interventions in social economy companies in Flanders (Belgium).

Anne Hublet,Benedicte Deforche,Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij,Lea Maes,Jasmine Mommen

doi:10.1186/s12889-015-2682-5

Anne Hublet, Benedicte Deforche + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2682-5

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Abstract

BackgroundDisadvantaged groups are often not reached by mainstream health promotion interventions. Implementing health promotion (HP) interventions in social economy companies, can be an opportunity to reach those people. The implementation of these interventions in social economy companies was studied. Factors that could be related to the implementation of HP and being supportive towards implementation in the future, were investigated.MethodsAn online, quantitative survey was sent to all 148 sheltered and social workshops in Flanders. In the questionnaire, the status of HP interventions and characteristics of the workshop were explored. Personal factors (such as attitudes towards HP, behavioural control, social norms and moral responsibility) were asked to the person responsible for implementation of HP interventions. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed.ResultsRespondents of 88 workshops completed the questionnaire. Almost 60 % of the workshops implemented environmental or policy interventions. Having a positive attitude towards HP, being more morally responsible, and having the subjective norm that employees are positive towards health promotion at work, were related to being more supportive towards the implementation of HP in the univariate analyses. Only attitude stayed significantly related to being more supportive towards the implementation of HP in the multivariate analyses.ConclusionsSheltered and social workshops are open to HP interventions, but more can be done to optimize the implementation. To persuade persons responsible for the implementation of HP to invest more in HP, changing attitudes concerning the benefits of health promotion for the employee and the company, is an important strategy.

Highlights

Disadvantaged groups are often not reached by mainstream health promotion interventions
Research concerning Health Promotion (HP) for people with disabilities or psychiatric problems is underdeveloped and this population is hard to reach by mainstream health promotion (HP) initiatives [5, 6]
In Flanders-Belgium, social economy companies employ a diverse group of people who are unable to work in the regular economy

Summary

Introduction

Disadvantaged groups are often not reached by mainstream health promotion interventions. Implementing health promotion (HP) interventions in social economy companies, can be an opportunity to reach those people. The implementation of these interventions in social economy companies was studied. Research concerning Health Promotion (HP) for people with disabilities or psychiatric problems is underdeveloped and this population is hard to reach by mainstream HP initiatives [5, 6]. HP for people with disabilities should be implemented in their natural settings such as in supported living facilities and day care centers [5]. One of these natural settings can be the social economy companies. Most of them have a low educational level and are living in precarious life conditions [8]

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Conclusion